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July - 03

TNPSC BITS ❖ The University Grants Commission has approved a new scheme called STRIDE ‘Scheme for Trans-disciplinary Research for ’s Developing Economy’. o It aims to strengthen the culture of research and innovation in colleges and Universities. ❖ Indian pro boxer Vaibhav Yadav became the WBC Silver champion after defeating 's Fahpetch Singmanassak in the title match held in Pattaya, Thailand. o The fight was conducted by the Asian Council and approved by the (WBC). ❖ Ms. Rashika Raj of Tamilnadu has become the first transperson to have received her B. Sc Nursing degree from Tamil Nadu Governor at the convocation of the university. ❖ Haryana government has introduced a scheme called ‘Jal Hi Jeevan Hai’ in its northern districts. o It is a crop diversification scheme and promotes farmers to diversify paddy area into maize, arhar dal (pigeon pea) and soybean crops which require less water.

TAMIL NADU Startup India List

❖ Data from the commerce ministry on the number of start-ups registered with Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (Start-up India) initiative shows Tamil Nadu is in the seventh spot with 1,004 start-ups. ❖ Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi are in the top three slots with 3,661 & 2,847 and 2,552 start-ups respectively. ❖ Registered start-ups gain access to a host of benefits including exemption from angel tax, intellectual property fast-tracking and more.

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NATIONAL Ayush Grid

❖ The Electronics and Information Technology Ministry has agreed to give technical support to the AYUSH Ministry for planning and development of AYUSH GRID Project. ❖ It is aimed at digitisation of AYUSH knowledge, greater research, education, delivery of various health care programmes and better drug regulations. ❖ Formed in 2014, the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) is headed by Minister of State (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik.

Transformation of Agriculture

❖ The Prime Minister of India has set up a High-Powered Committee of Chief Ministers for ‘Transformation of Indian Agriculture’. ❖ Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis is the Convenor of the committee. ❖ CMs of Karnataka, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, UP, MP & Union Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj are the members of the committee.

Garuda – VI

❖ Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air Force are participating in Garuda VI, a bilateral air exercise at Mont de Marsan in France.

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❖ The last edition of joint exercise between IAF-FAF was held in June 2014 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan. ❖ This 6th edition of joint exercise takes place from 1 July to 12 July 2019. ❖ Such an exercise is aimed at enhancing interoperability level of French and Indian crews in air defence and ground attack missions.

3 New NIMZ

❖ Minister of Commerce and Industry has granted final approval to establish three new National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ). ❖ They will be set up at o Kalinganagar, Jajpur district of Odisha o Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh o Sangareddy district (erstwhile Medak district) of Telangana. About NIMZ ❖ NIMZs are one of the important components of National Manufacturing Policy, 2011. ❖ They are planned as large areas of developed land with the requisite eco-system for promoting world class manufacturing activity. ❖ It is based on the principle of industrial growth in partnership with States.

INTERNATIONAL Iran’s Nuclear Program

❖ Iran has exceeded the 300-kilogram limit on its enriched uranium reserves set by the 2015 nuclear deal. ❖ In 2015, due to international pressure Iran had agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow international inspectors in return for the lifting of economic sanctions. ❖ But due to rising tensions between Iran and the US and continuing economic blockade Iran has reverted back to enriching Uranium. ❖ This may eventually lead to production of nuclear weapons.

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NATO-ally Like Status

❖ The National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2020 was passed by the US Senate recently. ❖ It brings India at par with America’s traditional NATO allies like South Korea, Australia and Japan. ❖ It provides for increased US-India defence cooperation in Indian Ocean in the areas of humanitarian assistance, counterterrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security. ❖ In 2016 India was conferred the “Major Defence Partner” designation by the US.

ENVIRONMENT Single-use Plastic Ban

❖ New Zealand has officially banned single-use plastic shopping bags with effect from 1 July 2019.

❖ Single-use plastic bag is defined as any plastic bag which has handles and is less than 70 microns thick. • •

❖ As per United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) more than 80 countries have already introduced similar bans.

Whaling Resumes in Japan

❖ Japan has resumed commercial whaling after a period of 31 years, but will do whale hunting within country’s exclusive economic waters only. ❖ Large scale whale meat consumption started in Japan due to post World War 2 induced poverty. ❖ In 1986, Japan stopped commercial whale hunting and allowed only hunting for research purposes. ❖ It has now withdrawn from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) so is no longer subject to its rules.

STATES Rhino Protection Force

❖ An 82-member Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF) has been deployed in the Kaziranga National Park, Assam. ❖ The SRPF personnel will be posted under eight ranges of Kaziranga National Park. ❖ They aim to control rhino poaching as well as tiger poaching since Kaziranga is also a tiger reserve. • •

❖ Kaziranga National Park houses the largest population of One Horned Rhinoceros in the world. ❖ It has about 68% of the entire world population of One-horned Rhinoceros.

St. Mariam Thresia of Kerala

❖ Pope Francis will declare the Kerala Nun and foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family “Mariam Thresia” as Saint on October 13. ❖ The nun belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and worked for education girls and orphans. ❖ Sainthoods are conferred by The Vatican church. ❖ It had earlier declared three Kerala-born Indian Catholics as Saints (Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara, Sister Euphrasia and Sister Alphonsa)

SPORTS Asian Junior Squash

❖ Veer Chotrani has won the Asian junior individual squash championship finals in the Under-19 category by defeating Yash Fadte.

❖ He became the third Indian to win the trophy after Ravi Dixit and Vela Senthilkumar. ❖ He was also the first Indian to win in Under-13 Asian Junior championships held at Iran in 2014.

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IMPORTANT DAYS

Van Mahotsav Week / July 1 – 7 ❖ The annual van Mahotsav week is celebrated in India in the first week of July. ❖ During this festival thousands of trees are planted all over India. ❖ It was started in 1950 by K. M. Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food at that time. ❖ This celebration aims to create awareness in the minds of the people for the conservation of forests and planting of new trees.

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